WASHINGTON, DC - Pepco Edison Place Gallery and Art Impact USA, Inc. are co-hosting the opening reception for first annual Art Impact International 2016 Art Exhibition.  Opening with a reception Saturday, Jan.9, works of art from ten countries will be on view through Jan. 28.

Special guest artist, Ambassador Joseph Edmunds of St. Lucia is among the eclectic group of artists from Brazil, China, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States. Cellist Benjamin Gates, whose repertoire ranges from classical to hip-hop, will perform during the reception and Ambassador Edmunds will deliver a poetry reading.

The goal of the exhibiting artists, Bethel Aniaku, Larry "Poncho" Brown, Andrea Clement, Alexis Goodridge, Tarver Harris, Festus Izevbigie, Hubert Jackson, Daniel Kathalynas, Vicki Marckel, Pasquale Monaco, Ernani Silva, Nia Tavlarides Stratos, Gloria Valdes "Tarasca", Khalid Thompson, Sally Tsou and Ambassador Edmunds is to use their creativity to benefit humanity by inspiring communities and their leaders.

Art Impact International 2016 is sponsored in part by Pepco Holdings, Inc., The DRUM Foundation, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts and the Law Firm Vendors Association.  Art Impact USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing humanity's spirit through art.  The opening reception is free and open to the public.  For more information, please visit www.artimpactusa.com/international.   

The Pepco Edison Place Gallery is open with free admission noon to 4 p.m. each Tuesday through Friday and is located at 702 Eighth St., NW, Washington, DC.